Just one week after the Tahura Trail, the 2017 Asia Trail Master tour already pitches its tents in the Philippines for the second points race. As last week's event in Indonesia, the Rizal Mountain Run is another Candidate Race that has moved up to our championship calendar this year. The 50 km in the Rizal mountains east of Manila is a tough rollercoaster with 2800 hm that seems to favour punchy runners. Kristian Joergensen, Danish but residing in the country, and Koi Grey fought a great battle last year and are back this weekend to open their 2017 campaign. However, one cannot look past Asia Trail Master champion Manolito Divina as top favourite for the men's race. Especially since Divina has something to make up. A DNF at Tahura by getting lost was an unexpected non-result last week! Instead of taking the new championship by the horns straightaway with two potential top points hauls, the pinoy star will have to make do with the Rizal Mountain Run this Sunday to get in the mix. At least one thing was obvious in Bandung: Manolito Divina is on the pace again. Race winner Abdoullah Mitiche was not finished with him yet, but that's trail running for you. 

The women's race will see Majo Liao competing more or less on home soil. Liao was second in the Asia Trail Master championship last year despite suffering from an injury for a large part of the season. Tahira Najmunisaa already showed everyone how strong she is again last week, can Liao do the same this weekend? Last year's winner Cheryl Bihag will also return to Rizal. 

Via our social media channels you can stay tuned to the race developments this weekend. 

A nice but tough 50 km loop in the Rizal Mountain area

2016 Asia Trail Master runner-up Majo Liao is the top favourite in the women's race

Kristian Joergensen won last year's edition after a splendid dual with Koi Grey

The new year's holiday has come to an end already, and for sure all of you are on fire to kick off your new trail racing campaign by now! The 2017 Asia Trail Master Championship   series begins this weekend in the most appropriate manner: a top event in an exciting location and a trail course that is perfectly designed to shake off that winter stiffness! The 5th Tahura Trail in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia is on this Sunday, and the highly popular event is honoured by the participation of the two defending Asia Trail Master champions: Manolito Divina (Philippines) and Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid (Malaysia)! 

Organised by the running division of Indonesia Biking Adventure, the Tahura Trail is arguabky the most popular trail event in Indonesia looking at pure participation numbers. The event of course caters for absolutely everybody: the experienced and top athletes have the 42k marathon distance, but less ambitious or beginning runners also have a wide range of options from 21k to 10k, family run or a new nocturnal race. For the Asia Trail Master championship, only the 42k provides finisher and performance points, 500 as maximum total for the male and female winners of the race. 

When one says Bandung, trail runners obviously think of The Bandung Explorers, the local trail running team that features a.o. 2015 Asia Trail Master champion Arief Wismoyono. Having home advantage, they will be the ones to beat. It will be interesting to see the dual between Wismoyono and Manolito Divina on Sunday. Divina had the Bandung ace in his pocket two months ago in his home territory in Clark, but the freshly married Wismoyono has seemed rejuvinated and might just as well equal the score on Sunday. 

Plenty of other race favourites this weekend, though. Not in the least Algeria-born Abdoullah Mitiche who won Tahura Trail last year. As Mitiche explained in our Talking Trail Running series this week, he just loves this race. Although primarily a long distance triathlete, Mitiche always makes a goal of Tahura and anyone who wants to win on Sunday will need to get passed him. Running speed is important in this race, as the distance of 42 km is obviously no 100 km long haul. It provides excellent runners with perhaps less technical trail wherewithal such as Mitiche with chances of upsetting the established trail elite. The relatively short distance should also play in the hands of Malaysia's Lim Wen Shan. And what to expect of Yohanis Hiareij and Margono, two other Indonesian runners known for their fast legs? 

Rhenaldi Firdaus, the youngster and winner of MesaStila 4 Peaks Challenge (65km) last October, is on the start list as well. Has he recovered from his fantastic efforts in Hong Kong last week during the UTWT race over there? Plenty of names, plenty of action to be expected on Sunday morning!

Moving over to the women, one cannot look past the presence of defending champion Tahira Najmunisaa. Unbeaten in five races on the Asia Trail Master tour, it is only logic she goes into Tahura Trail as the woman to beat. While admitting to being fatigued after the grueling Indonesia SuperTrail at MesaStila a few months ago, Tahira can be expected to be back at the top of her game this weekend. The local opposition will be there, though, as well. 

The first race of the 2017 Asia Trail Master season will be followed extensively on our usual social media channels as of the race briefing and champion's ceremony on Saturday afternoon. 

The second points race in this final weekend of the 2016 Asia Trail Master series takes place on a small island off the coast from Davao on Mindanao in the Philippines. The Punisher 50 may sound like very serious business, but actually this is the ideal kind of trail race to end your year with. Babak Samal Island is often described as a charming haven: an island, a garden and a metropolitan area all rolled into one. It has wildlife, stunning waterfalls, awe-inspiring caverns and scenic underwater sanctuaries, and is often dubbed as a region for wellness tourism. On this island, participants in the Punisher will run for 50 miles or 50 kilometres. The long distance runners will actually go all across the island before returning to the Sunset Beach Resort, which serves as the host venue and the start and finish of the race this Sunday. In total, there are 2250 metres of elevation gain to be conquered, which makes this a runnable course that should be completed in 20 hours. It is the second edition of the event, organised by Vertical 2 Sky. It is the second race in Mindanao after Ultra Trail Mapawa on the other side of the island last October. 

While the majority of the course suits fast runners, there are some steep bits and other technical sections in the rocky mountain area. There's also a few river crossings to slow down the pace. 

It will be an interesting race to follow without clear favourites in both the men's and women's field of participants. Several runners will be aiming especially to add a point to their tally for their Grandmaster Quest. 

Race organiser Doi Calbes with Jan Nilsen during course discovery earlier in the year

For the first time since the launch of the Asia Trail Master series in 2015, runners will score championship and Grandmaster Quest points in Thailand this weekend. The inaugural Ultra Trail Panoramic, organised by Teelakow - known of UTKC -, is a great new addition to the race calendar. It is not for beginners, though, as the programme consists of 100 miles and 100 km races only. Experienced trail runners, on the other hand, love the notion of running all the way from A to B. In the case of the 100 milers that implies running from Maehongson to Pai, whereas the 100k participants start their journey 60 km down the trail. It is a race in the Northwest of the country with lots of variety in terrain, and with the biggest obstacle coming at the end: Mieang Mountain! A long mountain climb with 1200 metres of elevation gain, before the big descent to the finish. Total elevation gain for the 100 miles is approx 7000 hm, and 4200 hm for the 100k. 

Asia Trail Grandmaster Aleksis Capili will be at the start in Maehongson, and of course for the long distance. Having just completed his seventh Grandmaster distance in Clark two weeks ago, Capili can claim his 8th point as he finishes in Pai, which would bring him within two points of the second level in the Grandmaster Quest: the two-stars shield. Moreover, the Thailand-based Filipino can still improve on his 2016 championship ranking as well. Currently sixth with 1147 points, a good result this weekend can eliminate his rather modest UTHK result of early this year and as such still jump ahead of Abdul Rahman and into the top 5. Also Brunei's Ali Ajis Rasil, currently 11th in the championship standings, will be trying to get into the top 10 still, as well as scoring his fourth Grandmaster Quest point

This weekend we will get to know a lot of local Thai runners entering the Asia Trail Master scene. Next year there will be several points races in Thailand, which has also fully embraced the sport of trail running. The first 2017 appointment will of course be UTKC, or Ultra Trail Unseen Koh Chang, on 17-18 February. That established event has been accredited with the Thailand SuperTrail label, which implies bonus points for the 2017 Asia Trail Master championship for all finishers! 

The trophy of the race!

The last SuperTrail race of the year is taking place in Clark, Philippines on Sunday, and it could be the decisive battle for the Asia Trail Master Championship. In pole position and holding all the cards is Thailand-based Norwegian Jan Nilsen, who after a tremendous season leads the points ranking having dominated all ultras in Indonesia. Only the best three results count, and so Nilsen currently has a 100-point bonus over home favourite Manolito Divina. And here's the catch: Divina won CM 50 in the past two years. If he repeats that feat and beats Nilsen on Sunday again, he will wipe out his rather disappointing 4th place result of UT Mapawa last month and finish the season with 1650 points, 50 more than Nilsen. Those 50 points are the difference between winning a SuperTrail and a standard race. Divina won Malaysia Eco 100 in May, Nilsen took MesaStila Peaks Challenge in October.  He who wins CM 50 is the 2016 Asia Trail Master champion. 

However, there are runners who can spoil the party for both Divina and Nilsen this weekend. Runners who have not yet given up on their own ambitions to become this year's ATM champion. CM 50 is not the final race of the year, there are still points and opportunities to be scored in UT Panoramic (Thailand) and The Punisher (Mindanao, Philippines) from 9 to 11 December. Indonesia's Arief Wismoyono and Xu Xiutao (China) in particular have both travelled to Clark this week with a clear mission: to beat the two protagonists and postpone the championship outcome. Wismoyono is of course the defending Asia Trail Master champion and won Ijen Trailrunning this season. Recently married, Wismoyono finds a trail course very much to his liking in Clark and is highly motivated to show to the Asian trail community he can also win outside his home country. Xu Xiutao has already done that: the young Chinese runner from Beijing was a strong winner at Korea 50K last April, and before that came second at UTHK 100 behind Tom Robertshaw. Xu has already pencilled in the 9-11 December long weekend in his diary... which says enough.

Fact is that if Wismoyono or Xu Xiutao win CM 50, the ATM championship will in theory not be over yet.

There's a number of other strong competitors this weekend who could also steal points away from the favourites. Isaac Yuen Wan Ho from Hong Kong is in great shape and could cause an upset still. Denmark's Kristian Joergensen is a real dangerman on the Pinoy trails, as he proved in the preparatory MF42 race two months ago. And of course, there's an entire armada of strong and experienced local runners at the starting line. In addition, there will be Aleksis Capili, the first Asia Trail Grandmaster, who just like Jan Nilsen will aim for a seventh finish on the way to the 2 stars shield (10 finishes). 

These are the four leading favourites for this year's Asia Trail Master championship

Majo Liao is the top favourite for the women's race again this weekend

Tahira Najmunisaa is already confirmed as the women's 2016 Asia Trail Master champion, and this weekend local star Majo Liao can assure herself of second spot. Also a double winner of CM 50 already, Majo can do a hattrick on Sunday. 

This weekend's CM 50 is already the sixth edition and therefore one of the pioneering races in the Philippines. Running from the Clark Freetrade Zone to the Miyamit Falls and back over 50 miles (82 kilometers). It is quite runnable, yet there are over 3000 metres of elevation gain to be conquered as well. Less ambitious participants can also opt for the slightly shorter distance of 60 km.  

The race starts at 1 a.m. and you can stay up to date on all the action throughout the weekend live from Clark. 

Link to Race summary 2015 edition

CM 50 Ultra - Just 1 more week to go to the final SuperTrail race of the 2016 Asia Trail Master season in Clark, Philippines!

It is going to be a make-or-break race for several top ranked men if they still want to become this year's Asia Trail Master champion. Their task is clear: beat Jan Nilsen in the 50 miles race to Miyamit Falls and back. The pressure will be pretty much on home favourite and already a double winner of this race, Manolito Divina. But last year's ATM champion Arief Wismoyono has not surrendered yet and is coming to defend his title in style. And what about dark horse Xu Xiutao, a fantastic winner in Korea 50k and determined to become champion! They are only a few names of the strong male line-up for next week's big event.

In the women's CM 50 race, all eyes will be cast on local favourite Majo Liao, who can consolidate her second place in this year's championship behind Tahira Najmunisaa. Expect a lot of changes to occur in the rest of the top 10 still by the end of the season. As you can see below, it is very tight for third place in the women's ranking at the moment with Patricia Shindy from Indonesia currently holding it. 

Take a look at the current top 15 going into the Philippines' SuperTrail:

2016 Asia Trail Master Championship Ranking - Men:
*Best 3 points result count

1. Jan Nilsen (NOR) 1650
2. Manolito Divina (PHI) 1500
3. Isaac Yuen Wan Ho (HKG) 1450
4. Abdul Rahman Abu Hassan (MAS) 1275
5. Arief Wismoyono (INA) 860
6. Lee Jeong Ho (KOR) 825
6. Nohui Seong (KOR) 825
8. Ali Ajis Rasif (BRU) 810
9. Xu Xiutao (CHN) 800
10.Aldean Lim (PHI) 775
11. Hendra Wijaya (INA) 755
12. Aleksis Capili (PHI) 737
13. Husnan Husin (MAS) 716
14. Marcelino Sano Oy (PHI) 710
15. Alan Toh (MAS) 690

2016 Asia Trail Master Chamionship Ranking - Women:

1. Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid (MAS) 1650
2. Majo Liao (PHI) 1450
3. Patricia Shindy (INA) 1110
4. Jassica Lintangga (MAS) 1015
5. Ruth Theresia (INA) 1000
6. Ina Budiyarni (INA) 990
7. Yuen Kit Shan (HKG) 950
8. Xiao Jing (CHN) 925
8. Sunghee Lee (KOR) 925
10.Faherina Mohd Esa (MAS) 850
11.Gyesook Lee (KOR) 825
11. Mila Marlina (INA) 825
13. Jocelyn Cheung (HKG) 800
14. Gretchen Felipe (PHI) 760
15. Hyonshim Chong (KOR) 720

Grandmasters in 2016 - 1 star:
Aleksis Capili (PHI)
Jan Nilsen (NOR) 
Ina Budiyarni (INA)

Check out the full ranking via the Race Timing Solutions page, where you can also filter by nationality to find out the best trail masters in your country. 

Jan Nilsen leads the 2016 Asia Trail Master ranking after 3 big wins in Indonesia

Majo Liao is second in the women's ranking and can assure that position at CM50

The second major ultra race on the Asia Trail Master scene this weekend takes place in the New Territories in Hong Kong. HK 168 has become one of the traditional events in Asia's trail running centre and the increase in race registrations reflect the growing relevance of the event, which has joined the Asia Trail Master series and points championship for the first time this year.  Many international participants and some key ATM-ranked athletes are competing here, too. Isaac Yuen Wan Ho, third in the current points ranking behind Jan Nilsen and Manolito Divina, will be trying to improve on his best-three points total and as such edge closer to the Pinoy runner ahead of him. In fact, Yuen Wan Ho can win HK 168 all together. 

HK 168 is actually a bit longer this year and starts at Shin Mun Reservoir. In total, more than 8000 metres of elevation gain need to be conquered, which is of course a significant amount. Also the 93km and 66km races are no walks in the park. 

In the women's race we will see Yuen Kit Shan, winner of UTHK earlier this year, compete in her second race of the year. Another victory, not unlikely, can boost her way up the women's ranking. In theory, she is the only runner who can still catch up in points with Tahira Najmunisaa, provided she wins HK 168 and CM 50. This weekend, Yuen Kit Shan will compete against other regulars in the Hong Kong/China area like Xiao Jing. 

You can follow the action at Hk 168 live this weekend via the Race Timings Solutions portal - partner of Asia Trail Master. Also on our social media pages, our representatives will keep you updated. 

Live Results HK 168

Race Timing Solutions

Yuen Kit Shan is aiming for her second victory of the season this weekend

The 4th edition of the Bromo Tengger Semeru Ultra in East Java, Indonesia, is on this weekend and the focus will pretty much be on two athletes: Asia Trail Master championship points leader Jan Nilsen is the big race favourite and, moreover, can become the second male Asia Trail Master Grandmaster, while Jakarta's Ina Budiyarni looks set to become the first female Asia Trail Grandmaster. The event probably has the most awesome backdrop of all in the series, but as those places go, tend to be vulnerable to the natural elements as well. The organisers were happy enough to announce that the original 170 and 100 routes to the Bromo volcano rim will be open, when a threatening weather forecast for the weekend dampened the euphoria. As at MesaStila Peaks Challenge last month, the participants will most likely have to cope with torrential rain showers, wind, and cold temperatures on the summits. Bad weather has been affecting many trail races of late, let's hope that BTS Ultra will be spared the worst.

This is also one of the toughest races of the season alongside Rinjani 100, and we all remember what happened there: only Jan Nilsen made it to the finish within the cut-off time. Nilsen has been outstanding all year in the toughest mountain races, and it is hard to see who can beat him now in normal circumstances. Then again, Muhammad Dzaki, second at MesaStila, is in prime shape and can put up a challenge to the Thailand-based Norwegian. Nilsen himself is keen for victory here, after he had to pull out of the race last year with blisters while running in the lead together with Ullas Narayana, who will not defend his title this weekend. In terms of Asia Trail Master championship points, Nilsen can maximise his points total for the final ranking in which the best three results of the year count. It would give added pressure to his rivals in the championship, such as Manolito Divina, Xu Xiutao, Yuen Wan Ho and Arief Wismoyono to name the most obvious challengers. Bandung runner Arief Wismoyono, who secured his 2015 Asia Trail Master champions with a gutsy run at Bromo last season, will not take the start on Friday afternoon. Wismoyono will be back in action at CM 50 Ultra, the Philippines' SuperTrail, on 27 November. While Nilsen and Dzaki are the main contenders for victory and the podium on the 170 km, the dark horse may well be Yohanes Hiareij. Second at Ijen Trailrunning behind Wismoyono, Hiareij DNFd at MesaStila and may be motivated to produce a strong performance at BTS. 

On the 100 km race distance, Rhenaldi Firdaus may be the one to watch. Firdaus won the MesaStila 4 Peaks last month, the 65k race over there. 

Jan Nilsen (in white) was running with eventual winner Ullas Narayana for a long time last year

As no women will take part in the grueling 170 km race, the 100 km distance has become the main event, or the A-distance. This implies that there will be a full bag of 400 ATM performance points on offer for the winner, instead of the usual 200 for a B-distance. We can look forward to a great competition, as most of Indonesia's leading ladies of trail running are present. Ruth Theresia was second in last month's MesaStila and may set the pace. But what about Patricia Shindy, only woman to finish the Rinjani 60 last July? Mila Mirlani is there as well, who can always rely on her experience in the long ultras. From Malaysia we have Faherina Mohd Esa, a solid second place finisher at the Magnificent Merapoh Trail 100 in July. And last but not least, Ina Budiyarni, who at MesaStila led most of the 65 k race to eventually finish second and for whom BTS is her favourite trail race. Budiyarni started her trail running career here three years ago, and it would be quite fitting if she indeed manages to complete her Grandmaster Quest in the race where it all began. Who knows, maybe a podium finish as icing on the cake?

The Grandmaster Quest results in a lifetime achievement award and entry into the Asia Trail Master Hall of Fame. To obtain the honorary Grandmaster title, runners must complete six races of minimum 70 km or 4500 Hm, within 24 months. Aleksis Capili was the first trail runner who managed this feat at the Malaysia Eco 100 last May, and this weekend Jan Nilsen and Ina Budiyarni can reach the level of six completed races. Both of them began their campaign at Borneo TMBT in August 2015, fifteen months ago. As evidence of the difficulty of the Grandmaster Quest, Nilsen (BTS 2015, Malaysia Eco 100) and Budiyarni (Merapoh 100) both suffered setbacks along the way with DNFs in races that could have given them additional points. Ultra running remains a serious challenge to everyone: to finish first, you need to finish first. 

Stay tuned this weekend via our social media channels to find out what is happening at the 2016 Bromo Tengger Semeru Ultra! 

If Ina Budiyarni finishes the 100km race she is the first female Asia Trail Grandmaster

Jan's Five Grandmaster Quest Steps so far:

• 08/2015 - Borneo TMBT (Malaysia) - 100 km
• 11/2015 - CM 50 Ultra (Philippines) - 82 km
• 02/2016 - UTHK (Hong Kong) - 156 km
• 07/2016 - Rinjani 100 (Indonesia) - 100 km
• 10/2016 - MesaStila 5 Peaks Challenge (Indonesia) - 100 km

Ina's Five Grandmaster Quest Steps so far:

• 08/2015 - Borneo TMBT (Malaysia) - 100 km
• 10/2015 - MesaStila 4 Peaks Challenge (Indonesia) - 65 km
• 11/2015 - Bromo Tengger Semeru Ultra (Indonesia) - 100 km
• 05/2016 - Ijen Trailrunning (Indonesia) - 70 km
• 10/2016 - MesaStila 4 Peaks Challenge (Indonesia) - 65 km

To learn more about the Asia Trail Grandmaster Quest, please refer to our dedicated webpage. 

A blue sky might be a rare sight this weekend during the race .. 

The brutal course of the 170 km BTS 

The Philippines' running ace Manolito Divina returns to the Asia Trail Master scene this weekend at the Ultra Trail Mapawa race on Mindanao Island. A 50km race with about 2400 metres of elevation gain that should suit him well to regain the top spot in the Asia Trail Master ranking. Divina would equal the points achieved by Jan Nilsen (1600), but in the latest direct confrontation between the two in an ATM points race (Malaysia Eco 100) the Pinoy star won and Nilsen DNF'd. Still, nothing will be decided for the championship this weekend as the two will clash again next month at CM 50 Ultra, and will even face stern opposition from other Asian top runners in that race as well. This weekend, what counts for Divina in the Mapawa race is to win and get the maximum available points (500). 

UT Mapawa is a popular event that has been on the Mindanao trail programme for a few years, but it is the first time the organisers are opening up the event to a wider and more international audience. In fact, the 50 km trail route is new this year and therefore references to the previous editions are not very significant. The race takes place in a Nature Park, about half an hour's drive outside the local city hub of Cagayan de Oro in the northwest of Mindanao. The course is quite technical with lots of single trails, and there's four official mountain climbs and five water streams on the itinerary. It does take some time to travel to Cagayan from outside the Philippines, but it will be a rewarding experience. 

An impression of the Mapawa Nature Park 

Manolito Divina should not expect a training run, however, as there are more strong trail runners on the list of starters. Aldean Lim was third in the Cordillera Mountain Ultra, for example, and Thumbie Remigio returns after some time off due to injury. Never count him out!

In the women's a lot of attention will go to the performance of Majo Liao, only three weeks after the grueling 100k of the MesaStila 5 Peaks Challenge in Indonesia. Majo was one of only three women to complete that race run in very difficult conditions. Now back on more familiar territory, she starts the Mapawa 50 as the favourite. A victory on Sunday would push her up to second place in the Asia Trail Master championship, behind Tahira Najmunisaa. 

All the participants on the 50k will not only be rewarded with the standard finisher points and performance points for the ATM championship ranking, but will also receive a gift from our sponsor Simple Hydration! 

Majo Liao returns to the trails only three weeks after the devastating MesaStila Peaks Challenge

Manolito Divina on a mission to regain the points lead in the Asia Trail Master ranking

This weekend there are two points races on the Asia Trail Master schedule: Ultra Trail Jeju in South Korea, and Mount Falaza Ultra Trail in Eastern Russia. Both races are young and keen to develop further into important races on the Asian trail calendar. UT Jeju is a three-day stage race of 100 km in total, while Mt Falaza UT features a 50 km and 39 km race valid for Asia Trail Master points on and around the Falaza mountain that characterises the Promorye region in the very far East of Russia, close to Vladivostok. 

This Friday, approx 110 runners will begin the stage race on the beautiful Jeju Island that belongs to South Korea. On day 1, they are supposed to climb the highest peak of the island, Mt Halla, in a race of 30 km. Day 2 and 3 consist of 36k and 34k respectively. Two weeks ago, harsh weather conditions forced the organisers of Ultra Trail Mount Jiri to reduce their event to 50k, but this weekend should not be that dramatic. 

Mount Falaza Ultra Trail is hosted by the Gribanovka Ski Resort, a popular place for skiing in winter and now also increasingly so for trail running and adventure racing. While still a boutique event this year, the local organiser is a well-known and respected athlete in the North Asia region himself, who is highly motivated to develop the event in the years to come. Trail running is also in eastern Russia still a very young sport. Participants can combine the race with a city visit to Vladivostok, as shuttle bus transport to and from the Gribanovka Ski Resort is arranged by the race organiser. 

As always, via our social media channels you can stay tuned to the action on the scene! 

The Siberian forest on and around Mt Falaza, scene of Sunday's Mt Falaza Ultra Trail 

Ultra Trail Jeju caters for all types of runners in a three-day stage race

It is time for the Indonesia SuperTrail! The 6th edition of the MesaStila Peaks Challenge this weekend in Central Java has record participation numbers and will see a significant battle for points in the 2016 Asia Trail Master championship. Ranking leaders Tahira Najmunisaa and Isaac Yuen Wan Ho are both registered along with a whole list of potential challengers to their thrones. On the agenda for them, of course, is one of the toughest races on the Asian trail calendar. An elevation gain of approx 7500 hm in 100 km, including the ascent of Gunung Merapi, is a big feat. Everyone who finishes this race within 36 hours will be a hero. 

MesaStila is the name of a boutique luxury spa and resort in Magelang, between Yogyakarta and Semarang, and close to the legendary temples of Borobudur. Trail running and trekking is inherent to the magnificent area, characterised by volcanic peaks that are scattered all over the place and offer breathtaking views. The race has gradually developed over the years and is proud to be the Indonesia SuperTrail in the Asia Trail Master series. Race director Sri Agus explains: "Indeed, it has been a long journey. In 2011 we started with the Losari Challenge, a 16km run, and one year later the name MesaStila Challenge was born: a Half Marathon following old train tracks. In 2013 the MesaStila Challenge went from rails to trails, and in 2014 we introduced the first Ultra distance of 60k. Last year we then added the 100k category. "

Last year, however, the event was affected by the major forest fires nearby. Gunung Merapi was closed at the time so that runners this weekend will conquer the nearly 3000m high volcano for the first time as part of the MesaStila 5 Peaks Challenge. Only 100k participants will proceed as far as Merapi. The 65k, nicked the 4 Peaks Challenge, reaches until Gunung Merbabu.  "Gunung Merapi is one of the most active volcanoes on earth and it is the signature item of our 100k race,"says Sri Agus. "It is a difficult trail to go up Merapi compared to other mountains nearby.  It is very steep in parts, and there's loose volcanic rocks. Overall this is technical terrain.  All participants on the 100k are advised to focus, pay attention and forget the racing when climbing up to the Pasar Bubrah check point. Once one top you will be rewarded by a view you will never forget. Take your time to take it in, then descend again carefully and only then start thinking of the race again. Safety should always come first."

Mila Marlina will try to repeat her victory from last year

The champions from last year are back. Arief Wismoyono, who laid the foundation for his successful Asia Trail Master championship here, and Mila Marlina are both on the start list for this weekend's 100k - or 5 Peaks - race. Wismoyono will be aiming to get himself in the mix to defend his ATM title. He already has a victory under his belt this year, at Ijen Trailrunning, but he needs more points after a DNF at Rinjani 100 last July. Wismoyono has home advantage, but faces a stern challenge from the amazing Rinjani champion Jan Nilsen. The 50-year-old Norwegian, who lives in Thailand, was the only finisher on the volcano in Lombok and is still in outstanding form. Last week, Nilsen finished third in MF 42, a preparatory race for the Clark-Myamit Falls Ultra - the Philippines' SuperTrail on 27 November. More importantly, Nilsen was not far behind Manolito Divina and Kristian Joergensen on a trail course that suited him much less. Nilsen and Wismoyono start as big favourites this weekend, but the just mentioned Kristian Joergensen certainly ranks as the dark horse. Joergensen, from Denmark, is a multiple race winner in his resident country the Philippines and is a young runner who can still feature highly in this year's Asia Trail Master championship. The question is: can he keep his fast running pace over a 100k distance?

Someone who can is Isaac Yuen Wan Ho. The Hong Kong runner moved into first place of our rankings last July with a second place in the Magnificent Merapoh Trail in Malaysia. Already completed three races this season, Yuen Wan Ho will aim to score more than 450 points to improve on his total of 1400 ATM points, which means he needs to come second this Sunday to do so.... and Jan Nilsen should not win, otherwise the Norwegian, currently third with 1000 points, will take over the points lead in any case. Technically, also Malaysia's Abdul Rahman can find himself topping the Asia Trail Master ranking after the weekend! Currently ranked fifth with 775 points, Rahman needs a victory, though, and even then it depends on the performances of the others. One thing is for sure: Rahman, a finisher of the Malaysia Eco 100 miles and Merapoh Trail 100, will not have a problem with the long distance. The same can be said of Brunei's Ali Ajis Rasil, number 6 in the ATM ranking today following fine performances at Beach Bunch, Ijen Trailrunning and Vietnam Mountain Marathon. 

Finally, remember the tight sprint finish at Ijen Trailrunning this year? Local running star Yohanis Hiareij may have lost that one to Wismoyono, but he's back at MesaStila and might just as well take his revenge. 

Gunung Merapi is the highest point of the 5 Peaks race

Moving over to the women's side, Asia Trail Master points leader Tahira Najmunisaa from Malaysia will be aiming to consolidate her lead this weekend. Another race victory would mean Tahira has got the championship basically all wrapped up. Earlier this season, she won the Malaysia SuperTrail, Eco 100, on top of other victories at Beach Bunch and Merapoh. If Tahira wins her second SuperTrail race at MesaStila, only Yuen Kit Shan and Ma Yanxing can still come alongside her in terms of points, but for them that would imply winning two more races, including the Philippines' SuperTrail in November, AND beating Tahira in a straight dual.  Quite unlikely. However, there is a second scenario in which Tahira does not win this weekend and sees Pinoy running star Majo Liao crossing the finish line first. Majo Liao has recovered from her ankle injury sustained in the Cordillera Mountain Ultra last June and is making her comeback at high level. Scheduled to run also at UT Mapawa at the end of this month and the Clark-Myamit Falls race, which she won convincingly last year, Liao is probably the biggest threat to Tahira Najmunisaa's championship ambitions. 

As such, the experienced Mila Marlina can play a major role in the women's race. As defending champion at MesaStila, Marlina will be keen to please the local Indonesian running community with a back-to-back win. From an Asia Trail Master points' perspective, it would put her back in the mix after difficult races in Hong Kong and Malaysia in the early part of the season, but she can also take away points from the two leading contenders.  

Several more well-ranked runners are doing the 4 Peaks Challenge of 65 km at MesaStila, such as Jessica Lintanga (5th) and Jocelyn Cheung (6th).  Given the high elevation gain (4800 hm), the Asia Trail Master committee decided that the 65 k distance is also valid for the Grandmaster Quest. 

A race on at times dense rainforest terrain like this requires appropriate markings. Runners should pay attention to the following items: 

• MesaStila Peaks Challenge flag
• Sticker reflectors
• Plastic lines
• Paint Markers
• Cut coloured paper  

We will report on the Indonesia SuperTrail from start to finish via our usual social media channels. Stay tuned for what promises to be an epic trail weekend! 

Tahira Najmunisaa can become Asia Trail Master champion this weekend. Her husband Abdul Rahman can jump to the very top of the male standings as well.

This weekend the second Korean trail race of the Asia Trail Master season is on the menu. A tough mountainous race in the country's Southern region, on and around the holy Jirisan mountain. Mount Jiri is in fact the second highest mountain in Korea at 1915m above sea level, and the surrounding national park the largest of its kind. Trail runners have 100km or 50km to absorb this weekend. The main race has approx 5900m of elevation gain and a tight cut-off time of 32 hours. Spectactular views and local ethnic culture will accompany the athletes during their effort.  

The weather forecast is not brilliant for the weekend. One week after the debacle at UTMF last week, there are fears that also this big race may be reduced to a shorter distance. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. In any case, the cold temperatures in combination with potential rainfall will make it a tough day for all competitors. [UPDATE: the 100k has been cancelled. All competitors will be redirected to the 50k distance]

The event will have its second edition following a successful test race last year. Organised by the same crew of Korea 50k - the country's best known trail race and also an Asia Trail Master points race in April - UTMJ has the environment to develop further into a classic race on the Asian calendar.  Accessible via Busan, the organisers also arrange transport from Seoul and the main event hotel is the great Kensington resort. 

The competition is quite open with a great mix of local Korean athletes and international runners. The conditions during the race may affect performances, so it really remains to be seen who will emerge victorious. 

You can follow the action at UTMJ live via our social media channels this weekend.